Synchronous airway pressure release ventilation

A method for controlling a pressure generator to provide airway pressure release ventilation synchronous with a breathing subject, the method being implemented by a ventilation system including the pressure generator, one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of a pressurized flow generated by the pressure generator, one or more physical processors configured to execute computer program modules, a power source, a user interface, and electronic storage, the method comprising:

• generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the pressure generator;
• generating output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the one or more sensors;
• executing computer program modules on the processor;
• detecting inspiratory and expiratory flow phases of the breathing subject including detecting starts and ends of the inspiratory and expiratory flow phases of the breathing subject;
• defining time intervals for providing periodic airway pressure release ventilation, the defining time intervals including:
• determining amounts of time the subject takes to complete inspiratory flow phases and expiratory flow phases, the amounts of time determined during ventilation based in part on the output signals of the one or more sensors;
• and
• defining beginning times and end times of the time intervals, the time intervals being determined based on the amounts of time the subject takes to complete inspiratory flow phases and expiratory flow phases during ventilation, the time intervals including a first time interval;
• and
• controlling the pressure generator to deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas with a pressure that fluctuates between pressure ranges, including controlling the pressure generator to deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas with a pressure that fluctuates between first and second pressure ranges, the first pressure range being higher than the second pressure range, such that delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas at the second pressure range reduces a gas pressure in the airway of the subject relative to delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas at the first pressure range, wherein controlling the pressure generator comprises:
• i) providing the flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject within the first pressure range over the first time interval, wherein the first time interval spans a plurality of respiratory cycles, and
• ii) providing the flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject at the second pressure range responsive to the following conditions being detected:
• (a) the first time interval has elapsed, and
• (b) a start of an expiratory flow phase has been detected.

A pressure control ventilation system configured to provide airway pressure release ventilation synchronous with a breathing subject, the pressure support system comprising:

• means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• means for communicating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject;
• means for generating output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• means for executing computer program modules;
• means for detecting inspiratory and expiratory flow phases of the breathing subject including detecting starts and ends of the inspiratory and expiratory flow phases of the breathing subject;
• means for defining time intervals for providing periodic airway pressure release ventilation, defining time intervals including:
• determining amounts of time the subject takes to complete inspiratory flow phases and expiratory flow phases, the amounts of time determined during ventilation based in part on the output signals of the one or more sensors;
• and
• defining start times and end times of the time intervals, the time intervals being determined based on the amounts of time the subject takes to complete inspiratory flow phases and expiratory flow phases during ventilation, the time intervals including a first time;
• and
• means for
• controlling the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas with a pressure that fluctuates between pressure ranges, the means for controlling the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas including means for controlling the means for generating the pressurized flow of breathable gas to deliver the pressurized flow of breathable gas with a pressure that fluctuates between first and second pressure ranges, the first pressure range being higher than the second pressure range, wherein the controlling means:
• i) provides the flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject within the first pressure range over a first time interval, wherein the first time interval spans a plurality of respiratory cycles, and
• ii) provides the flow of breathable gas to the airway of the subject at the second pressure range responsive to the following conditions being detected:
• (a) the first time interval has elapsed, and
• (b) a start of an expiratory flow phase has been detected.